#this is only partly in jest

[hopecomesbacktolife]

I’m a religious syncretic, I love both Star Trek and LOTR ✨ you’re welcome to join me if ya want! we have:

-high holidays (threshold day, sub rosa day, middle-earth new year, hobbit day, 7/9 day, durin’s day, etc)

-sacred music (shire theme, star trek theme, rohan theme, stiv theme, edge of night, beyond antares, nature’s reclamation, etc)

-special foods (po-ta-toes, italian [food], strawberries with cream, mint juleps, appreciation for a good ale, etc)

-guiding principles (IDIC, valuing food+cheer+song above hoarded gold, equity and equal rights for all, friendship and love and hope, doing good for goodness’s sake, being true to yourself, science appreciation, gorgeous textiles, enjoying a simple/comforting life, nature conservation and respect, anticapitalism, etc)

-icons (uhura, arwen, spock, aragorn, frodo, ben sisko, kira nerys, eowyn, etc)

-beautiful lyrical texts (LOTR, the silmarillion, unfinished tales, the wounded sky, spock’s world, etc)

and more!

[warpedpuppeteer]

I actually like to pretend they do and it gives me motivation to write 😂😂😂 Maybe they're leaving those heart emoji comments too who knows certainly not me. I hope they're enjoying them though 😌

yall ever sit and wonder if ryan and oliver have read one of your fics

[rosyrosethings]

Assistant Prank CEO Harry

This is series on my page. Harry's assistant stays with him. Just short and sweet

On a seemingly ordinary Friday, the atmosphere in Harry and Y/n's shared residence was tinged with a sense of bittersweet anticipation. Harry, known for his meticulous nature and a deep sense of responsibility towards those he cared about, was preparing for a rare weekend getaway. His destination was a cozy retreat in the countryside, where he planned to spend some quality time with his girlfriend, Bridget. This trip was a much-needed break from his demanding work schedule, offering a chance to recharge and nurture his personal relationships.

However, this departure was marked by an unusual heaviness, primarily because it meant leaving Y/n alone in the house. Y/n was not just a housemate but played a crucial role in Harry's life, managing the balance between a confidante and a responsibility he felt deeply for. The thought of leaving her alone, even for a weekend, didn't sit well with him, stirring a protective instinct that he often found hard to dismiss.

“Y/n, text me if anything goes wrong, okay?” Harry implored, his voice laced with concern as he slipped into his coat, ready to step out into the brisk morning air.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, Mr. Styles. I’ll be fine. I’ve been here alone before,” Y/n responded, her tone light and teasing, aiming to inject a bit of humor into the heavy atmosphere. She approached Harry, extending his bag towards him with a gentle smile. “I packed your laptop because God knows what would happen to you if you don’t work for one second out of the day,” she added, her voice soft yet playful, aware of Harry's relentless work ethic.

Harry couldn't help but smile, a genuine expression of gratitude and fondness. “Bye, Y/n,” he said, his voice carrying a hint of reluctance to leave.

As the door closed behind him, Y/n secured the lock and made her way to the living room, sinking into the couch with a sense of solitude enveloping her. To distract herself, she decided to scroll through TikTok, letting the endless stream of videos wash over her. It wasn't long before she stumbled upon a prank trend that immediately sparked an idea. The premise was simple yet mischievously effective: texting someone “you can come over now, he’s gone,” implying a clandestine meeting now that an obstacle—typically a significant other or a parent—was out of the picture. Chuckling at the thought, Y/n couldn't resist the urge to execute this playful scheme on Harry.

‘You can come over now babe, my boss is gone.’

She sent the message, a giggle escaping her lips as she imagined Harry's reaction, picturing his bewildered face trying to decode the message.

Harry, meanwhile, was only ten minutes away, his mind partly on the road and partly entwined with thoughts of Bridget and the weekend ahead. His phone buzzed with a notification, a text from Y/n. Assuming he had forgotten something at home, he glanced at the message, his eyes widening in disbelief. The words on the screen seemed to rearrange themselves, challenging his understanding. “Is she having someone over? And did she call them babe?” he muttered to himself, confusion and concern taking hold.

Without a second thought, Harry executed a swift U-turn, ignoring the chorus of honks from startled drivers. His mind raced with possibilities, each more unsettling than the last. Upon arriving back at the house, he entered to find Y/n lounging on the couch, her eyes meeting his with an innocent curiosity.

“Were you expecting someone else?” Harry inquired, his voice carrying a mix of jest and underlying seriousness as he approached her.

“No, why would I?” Y/n replied, her tone playful yet genuine, puzzled by the intensity of his reaction.

“Then why did you send me a text saying, ‘you can come over now, my boss is gone’?” Harry pressed, seeking clarity amidst the confusion.

“Because I thought it would be funny to see your reaction,” Y/n confessed, a giggle punctuating her words as she sat up, her eyes dancing with mischief.

Harry, however, was not immediately appeased. The protective instinct that had made him uneasy about leaving surged stronger. “Actually, I’m staying here. Bridget can come over here. I don’t want any boys coming around here,” he declared, a firm resolve setting in as he removed his coat, symbolically dismissing the prospect of leaving.

“Mr. Styles, it was a prank,” Y/n tried to clarify, her tone softening, attempting to bridge the sudden gap Harry's reaction had created.

“Yeah, okay. Now your night is with me instead of with your mysterious man,” Harry countered, half-teasing yet half-serious, as he settled next to her on the couch.

“You’re such a dad,” Y/n remarked, a blend of affection and exasperation in her voice.

“No, I just don’t want any mystery men around what's mine without me being here,” Harry retorted, his comment laced with a deeper, unspoken layer of concern.

“Or do you not want any men around me?” Y/n probed, her gaze locking with his, a challenge in her eyes.

“Aren’t you mine? I think what I said the first time makes sense,” Harry responded, his words hanging in the air, a mix of possessiveness and care mingled in his tone.

“My assistant, I mean,” he quickly added, clearing his throat, realizing the weight of his words and the ambiguity they carried.

“Oh, assistant, is that what you meant?” Y/n teased, her voice dripping with sarcasm, yet a soft smile played on her lips.

“Yeah, assistant,” Harry affirmed, the exchange leaving a tangible tension, a mix of amusement and unresolved feelings lingering between them.

[rpking99]

Love Of Rivals

Closed with @the-blackbird-roleplays

Closed from here

John smiled at the two beautiful women who'd quite literally fallen into his life. He sighed softly, managing to get them both to calm down after a rather skillful use of his soda guns and dousing them both in arctic-cold water... Which led to now. Their clothes drying, and the three of them in only their underwear and in his bed in the apartment above his Crescent City bar.

"I hope so. Have to get you two to pay me back for the roof somehow..." He grinned, slowly crawling forward and nestling his hips between Kim's thighs. "It'll cost me a few grand to get the glass ceiling fixed... Few hundred more for the tables and chairs... I wonder how we can work out that... Arrangement~" He was speaking in jest, though only partly. In truth, the moment he saw them aggressively making out as he dried their clothes he knew how the night was going to go...

"Well, I think taking Kimmie-pops first time will be good enough payment. Don't you think~?" Shego hummed with a grin, teasingly running her fingers along Kim's blue panties. Right along her covered slit

"Mmm~! Aah!" Kim shuddered out with her eyes flickering back a bit, a smile forming upon her face "Mwans I get first round? I'll take it."

[ghostofnuggetspast]

Army Discretion

His mates hold a truth to their chests It's not theirs to share, even in jests They know that he covers All genders of lovers But John's careful, covert in his quests

Having thought about this a bit more over dinner, I should clarify they're only discreet about the men. And maybe partly because he's got a mean left hook.

There's more on Ao3.

@totallysilvergirl @calaisreno @friday411 @weeesi

[the1975attheirverybest]

A Strange Encounter

A/N: requested Matty X writer OC is finally here. Sorry about the delay. Idk if this is a longer fic soft launch or not. Just a thing I wrote

Warnings: none

———-

Matty swore he could feel the sweat running down his back. He glanced around the room, his anxiety rising as he failed to spot any of the faces that he’d expected to see here tonight. He’d spent the better part of the year wearing ties onstage, but, for some reason, in this moment, his tie felt suffocating. He loosened it slightly but quickly fixed it back up, feeling like a fish out of water at this charity event.

Scanning the room for a quiet place to take refuge in, he spotted the open bar and rushed towards it.

“Thank fuck,” he mumbled to himself rushing in the direction of the free alcohol. As he approached the bar, he became aware of a solitary person, a woman, sitting atop one of the barstools, her back towards him, drinking alone. She turned around as she felt him get closer, giving him a polite nod.

He nodded in return, flashing her a quick smile.

“What can I get you, sir?” the bartender offered.

Matty almost ordered a glass of wine, but, on a whim, he turned towards the woman instead, “what’re you having?” he gestured towards her glass.

“A Cherry lime tequila.”

“is it any good?”

She nodded.

Matty turned back to the bartender. “I’ll have what she’s having, please.” He sat at the other end of the bar, losing his battle against the tie.

Moments later, the bartender returned with Matty’s drink in hand. The woman watched, out of the corner of her eye, as Matty whispered a polite ‘thank you,’ and took a sip of his drink. She noticed his face scrunching as the drink pour down his throat.

“How is it?” She asked, pressing her lips together to hide her amused smile.

“G- uhh- good.” Matty lied. “I’m Matty, by the way.” He moved one bar stool closer.

“Claire.”

He smiled softly, thinking of the next thing to say.

“So…Claire, what’s your vibe?”

“My- vibe?”

Matty swore he could see her skin physically crawl. He giggled, embarrassed. “That- is the dumbest thing that I’ve ever said in my entire life.”

Something about the way that he could instantly poke fun at himself without looking self-conscious softened her towards him.

“Let me try this again. Like an adult: you hear for the writers’ charity thing?”

“I am.”

“Me too!” His tone was a bit more enthusiastic than he’d hoped. “I’m a songwriter.” He offered up, calmer now, adjusting his demeanor. “Never been to one of these things before. To be honest, I kind of hate them. Fuckin rich people trying to make themselves feel better about the dystopian world that they’re partly to blame for by hosting fuckin fundraisers and chairing charitable foundations.”

Claire took a sip of her half empty glass, nodding as Matty spoke.

“So, what about you. You a writer too?”

She smiled, “yeah, I am. Fiction, though.”

She could see a light flash across his face. He leaned in closer, “that’s fuckin cool. Anything I might have read?”

“No.”

Matty frowned at her immediate, emphatic answer. “Why- not? Are you not any good?”

“Oh, I am. I just…” she adjusted her feet underneath her, sitting up straight.

“Just what?”

“Just don’t think it’s the kind of fiction that you would read.”

Matty’s lips parted, ready for a retort, but none came. After a moment of silence, he finally thought of something. “You’ve only just met me. You don’t know what kind of fiction I read.” His tone has an edge to it, but he remained composed.

“Oh, but I do- guys like you- the hair gel, the

loose tie, the general aversion to formal settings…you probably read Jack Kerouac and Kurt Vonnegut, and, like, David Foster Wallace.”

“Ha! Jokes on you. I’ve never read Vonnegut.”

His response caught her off guard, making her laugh.

“But, yeah I’ve read On The Road….and yeah I like David Foster Wallace.”

She had a triumphant look on her face. “Pale

King?”

“No, Infinite Jest, actually.” Matty watched her expression shift again. His turn to feel triumphant.

“You’ve read all of Infinite Jest?” She whispered, as if the revelation were some kind of secret.

“Twice.”

She studied him closely, pleased with the unexpected turn of their conversation.

“And…” Matty took a sip of his drink. “For your information, I also like Joan Didion, and Virginia Woolf, and Flannery O’Connor.”

She giggled, taking Matty aback by the effect that the sound of her laughter had on him. He looked away from his drink instantly, eyes focused on her.

“So you’re saying you’re not a complete cliche?”

He nodded. “Well, what about you, then? What kind of fiction do you like?”

Her lips curved into a smile as she heard his question, she leaned in to meet him halfway, but before she could speak, a well-dressed member of the venue staff approached her and whispered into her ear, pointing to the watch on his wrist.

She nodded, turning back to Matty with an apologetic look. “I’m sorry, if you’ll excuse me, I- I’m afraid I have to go. It was a pleasure meeting you, Matty.”

For the second time tonight, Matty found himself speechless. He wanted to say something, anything at all, but when his lips parted, no sound came out. Instead, he watched her walk away, getting smaller and smaller the further she got away from him.

***

The rest of the night droned on as Matty attempted to make polite conversation with screenwriters, journalists, and authors of various kinds around his table. He couldn’t help pulling out his phone to check the time, every time there was a lull in conversation.

In front of him, the event organizer stepped onstage announcing that the last speaker of the night was up next. It would be the host of the fundraiser and chair of the organization, Claire Jones.

Matty’s head whipped around, looking up from his phone and watching as Claire took the stairs from the side of the stage, walking towards the lectern.

He recalled the snide comments that he’d made to her about his disdain for these kinds of events and the people who organize them. He felt embarrassed. She must think he’s a complete asshole. Unsure if he should be looking at her, or how to control his facial expressions appropriately, he decided he’d be better off staring at his shoes until her speech.

Matty thought that, realistically, her speech couldn’t have been more than a few minutes long, but it felt like ages. He struggled to even register her words as his own echoed in his head. He sat there, wondering if he should apologize, wondering if it mattered, if she cared one way or the other, and wondering why he cared so much.

The sound of applause filled the room, Claire Jones stepped off the stage, esteemed guests began to move around tables and mingle, shaking hands with each other, hugging, catching up, and exchanging numbers.

By the time that Matty had made his way to the other end of the room, Claire was nowhere to be found. He walked the perimeter of the room a couple of times, hoping to spot her, but when he failed to find her, he defeatedly meandered towards the exit, sticking his hand into his pocket and pulling out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.

The nighttime breeze was merciful on his face. He hadn’t realized that he’d felt suffocated until he’d made it outside. He stood on the sidewalk, leaning against the building, smoking his cigarette. He was surprised to find himself disappointed that he’d never see Claire again.

[sebastianmichaelisslander]

my good friend i'm curious. because i am Very Normal about characters and i know you are also Very Normal about characters i would like to know. is there any kuro character you love enough/have enough thoughts about to write an essay on them? and why? because i know we have many characters we both love and some we disagree on i'd love to hear a bit of in-depth stuff about your faves!!

I am so, so, very glad I received this ask 😭🙏🏼💐 you have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for something like this!!!

Alright, I’m going to talk about one of my comfort characters: Mey-Rin.

And as this blog is for (semi-jokingly) slandering Sebastian, let me begin by saying that Seabass absolutely does not deserve this girl:

I mean, just look at her. 😭🙏🏼

Where do I begin?

First off, I feel like she’d be sharper and more perceptive than she gets credit for. I don’t buy that she doesn’t suspect a thing about Sebastian. She’d know something is very, very off about him from the start, even if he does show her kindness she’s seldom experienced before. I also think that’s the reason she wouldn’t have acted upon the crush she had on him - not just because she isn’t sure of his own feeling towards her, but also because something tells her it wouldn’t end well.

These observational skills are also partly why she’s more emotionally intelligent than she thinks. She truly is the mum friend - very helpful, very protective, and always someone you can come to with your problems. If you’ve noticed, she’s fretting over Finny, Bard, Ciel and Seb at several points in the manga. I also see her as the sort who worries more than she should, especially about those she cares for. This would also make her quite the overthinker - the sort to worry about stuff after it happens as she’s often in situations where she needs to act in the moment.

Although she’s primarily a long-range fighter, I do think she’d know her stuff when it comes to hand-to-hand combat - enough to help her in sticky situations. She’s lived on the streets for a lot of her formative years, so she would know how to remain aware of her surroundings and have a mean right hook. I also write her as more assertive than in canon. Partly because I wish we got to see her shine more, and partly because I think it would be a given if you look at her backstory and what all she’s had to survive.

I also enjoy portraying her as the sort who lowkey has a sassy side, but only once she gets comfortable enough with the person for them to know it’s all in jest coming from her. She’d make a wisecrack and then apologise for roasting them. 😂😭

Now, going back to her and Sebastian because I still have more to say: I’m also not a Sebamey shipper as I don’t like how quite a few fics shipping her with Sebastian portray her as his doormat or some damsel in distress 😭 but even if that’s not the case, just the fact that it’s a canon possibility he’d use her just as he used Beast lowkey puts me off. I’ll still read fics in which he’s a good partner to her, though - they’re fun.

I also like to think that while she is infatuated with Sebastian at first, it eventually turns into an “I admire him and aspire to be as good at my job” sort of thing. I think she developed a crush on him because he was one of the few men who showed her genuine kindness - even if it’s part of his act. I think most of the men she’s come across were the opposite - and that she’d also had some genuinely scary experiences with them (which I have implied in my works with her). I also don’t think she’d trust them in a hurry, even if she appears unbothered by men she meets at first.

About her life after she starts working at the manor: much like any other woman, all she wants is to feel desirable, especially when she gets to dress and live as one properly.

I also think that she’s a romantic at heart who loves the idea of finding someone who loves her for who she is, although she probably feels it’s all but a pipe dream. I think she’s probably had an experience or two before - probably fleeting ones. Living out most of her life pretending to be a man meant she didn’t have many opportunities at all for this sort of thing, even on the down low. So she hasn’t had any proper experiences with romance. I’m remembering the panel in which she’s extremely flustered after Ronald flirts with her, saying that’s the first time she’s been hit on. I like to interpret that as her feeling like this is the first time someone has made genuine romantic advances towards her.

As for her hobbies and any other interests outside of her job… I don’t know why, but I see her as the artsy kind with humanities girl energy. She seems like the sort who’d be a great artist and surprisingly good at painting. I also like to think she’d try to read more after Sebastian teaches her how to, often using a small part of her wages to buy novels (she loves both the macabre ones and the sappy romantic ones, lol). She’d underline any word she doesn’t know, probably asking Sebastian what it means later on.

I’d like to know more about her pastimes, likes, dislikes, and her as a character overall in canon as well. There’s still potential to expand upon a great deal.

That’s it for now on her! I’m going to do Othello next 😂 and then Ludger, mayhaps - or William and Grelle. My brain isn’t working today, so apologies for any vagueness or if I didn’t explain myself too clearly dhfjdkdb 😭

[red-haired-elf]

Kayden being kind of a regular here I figured he could have a more proper post 🌱

Kayden leans towards the classic runaway story. The thrilled prince got to experience the city on his own, and at the beginning had a delightful spring in his step to finally freely be among his people. But during his day out an alarming amount of city folk would whisper quietly over uncomfortable subject matters and friendly civilians turned fearful when recognizing Kayden's royal blood. A very bitter realization was grasped over how frightening and iron fisted father really was. This led to confronting the king, heating up to the point where the disgusted prince bitingly said that any leader whose people are afraid and only takes is nothing but a parasite. This offense was dealt with a swift hard crack across the face, knocking Kayden back off his feet and a grim promise to withdraw his already given "privileges". Kayden said nothing, but did not hide the expression on his face of barely contained rage behind wet eyes. His father was strict but never laid a hand until that moment, and Kayden decided once was all it was ever going to be. He sliced his long hair, took a few valuables and his griffin, leaving at the nearest window of opportunity. Upon learning about the defiant escape the king was furious and put forth a reward for the boy's return, if not partly out of spite over his son's "not giving anything back" remark.

Somewhere after a couple weeks of newfound freedom he met a group of four men who seemed amicable enough, engaging in friendly talk and jest. But once stepping into an isolated area the leader admits they figured out his identity and warned that the prince can come along with them the easy way, or do it the hard way; since nothing was said about having to be brought back in one piece. A terrifying struggle followed before Kayden took off when the chance arrived, flying over the towering trees as fast as he desperately could. His adrenaline eventually wore off and the pain demanded him to quickly choose the soonest place of likely refuge, circling down into a countryside community and landing in no other than Sorrel's backyard. The shocked centaur who was doing his morning routine of feeding chickens rushed to the injured boy's side as soon as the faun fell off his griffin. Kayden stayed with Sorrel until he felt well enough to try another chance at a new life, and is forever grateful to the kindness and positive outlook this once stranger has given him.

::Character Traits and other info::

Race: Deer Faun

Age: 14-15

Height: Average, like usual-at least not short

Birthday: December 5th (Sagittarius sun)

Kayden loves nothing more than to explore and make friends along the way! Anyone especially close gets sibling status- Sorrel gets this honor first, and is his best friend.

The second youngest of 5 children. He's closest to his mother, sister (the oldest) and little brother. The two older boys are unfortunately  influenced a lot by the father, so Kayden made sure to be a positive male influence for his little sibling by giving him lots of verbal and physical affection.

The fur and spear were obtained to distance himself as much as possible from his original look to hide his identity. He goes through different gear, but the lack of restriction and what his covering symbolizes makes it his favorite. The rush of wind on his skin, the sun shining, the light mist of rain- makes him feel alive.

Kayden is his new name; the less others know his original title the better

Having his or others well being in danger is bad enough but freedom threatened is quick to fill him with fury. Kayden is very friendly as the default but getting on his bad side is terrifying.

The deer half heightens certain abilities such as hearing, sight, smell, strength and speed. His legs are strong and can place a blurry painful kick. He will pick up an object to inspect with a sniff, and a stranger might have him nose inspecting the air (not directly in someone's face, but at a healthy distance). He can see relatively well in the dark.

Shy? Hardly! Just on the rare occasion. He can feel embarrassment though of course, just not easily since he can poke fun at himself and see the positive in situations.

Can play the harp; it was a dreamy escape while in the castle.

When Kayden is deep in thought or trying to suppress his rage, his manner of speaking changes so much he’s almost an entirely different person. He’s fully a noble prince in those moments.

Kayden loves a good joke; the dumber it is, the better! And because he was raised to have impeccable manners he can be very silly from the thrill of doing what he wants now ( or as a middle finger if he's feeling spiteful to his upbringing). Eat with a fork and knife? How about two forks or two knives instead?

Is incredibly bold and will go where few dare to tread (he jokes that his father is the scariest thing alive so he can handle anything). He loves treasure hunting for the thrill and adventure but not interested in keeping much of it, giving most away.

[inbarfink]

It is kind of telling that this woman Simon meet one time by chance suddenly decided to drop everything to follow him on a expedition to find an artifact that might not even exist after a single, pretty short, conversation, and he just... doesn't question it for a moment and goes "Okay!".

@clueless-rarito

Yeeeep, you hit that right on the money! Especially since his 'offer' for her to come was clearly done as, like, kind of a joke. He said that in jest

But Betty, in her infatuation with Doctor Petrikov and, like, general impulsiveness, saw this an opportunity and just leapt at it.

And Simon went along with it, partly because he's just too passive against Betty's incredible forwardness to be like "Hey, um, what about your own study tour you literally just mentioned? That also sounds important.....Also I don't know you." and also because Betty gave him a whole bunch of Validation that he seldom ever gets.

Like, that's the reason for that whole "THEY LAUGHED AT ME AT THE UNIVERSITY" plot beat in this flashback.

Betty was one of the few people to actually appreciated Simon's work and like... talked about him like he's this great brilliant researcher ("THE Simon Petrikov") and that was a mega-shot of validation he probably never got before. Yet another reason why he was so quick to take her up on that offer despite all the red flags.

And also, Betty being his first and often only source of Validation is probably the main reason why Simon's self image plummeted after Betty 'left' him and caused him to develop his own self-sacrificial tendencies.

[bird-inacage]

Only Friends: Ray x Sand in Episode 2 Preview

This episode is likely to follow Ray and Sand's burgeoning friendship after their 'truce'. And we're off to see Ray's plush home. (Can we talk about Ray's furry cardigan look? It makes him look so smol/soft).

What I noticed is that Ray does not look stir crazy drunk here, if at all. That's a considerable green flag because Ray is choosing (whether unconsciously or intentionally) to spend time with Sand whilst he isn't massively under the influence. And alcohol is a huge crutch for him. There's something about this that warms my heart, especially when his group of friends love drinking and getting raucous - it's sort of reassuring to see Ray spend time with someone just as he is.

"That girl at the bar was cute. Is she your type?" "Has any guy hit on you before?" This is very early 'testing the waters' and being nosy dialogue. Ray's trying to see how open or personal Sand can be with him, whilst also finding out which way Sand swings.

Ray does find Sand attractive, but it's more curiosity or intrigue each of them has for the other at this stage, rather than anything overtly romantic. Besides, Ray still has feelings for his best friend at present.

Another little detail is Ray has records mounted on his walls, so seems to also have a keen interest in music. The two are seen record shopping together later on. We're also going to get the cigarette kiss. (Lord please explain to me why on earth they are so ungodly hot when smoking?)

Sand stays the night at Ray's, but seemingly just to sleep. Ray even does a sneaky peek at Sand as soon as he wakes up. It's actually adorable to see how clingy Ray is with Sand already. This boy clearly feels very comfortable with him. I mean - one night of friendship - and let's cuddle? Ray is obviously someone who likes being physically affectionate or touchy feely. It does make you wonder if he lives in a huge house all by himself and is understandably lonely.

This is also where Sand suggests he see a shrink (which is delivered partly in jest but also somewhat seriously). Could be a comment on Ray's drinking problem, or something further comes to light during their heart to heart that Sand picks up on.

Now this is the intriguing scene for me. Ray is wearing the same outfit he does at the strip club (white shirt, denim jacket number). It looks like Sand ends up crossing his path and is not happy with what he finds - as he's seen storming away. Firstly, what is he doing there? Did he follow Ray? Or is he also there by coincidence? Secondly, is this jealousy or he just doesn't approve of what and why Ray is there? Thirdly, Ray seems compelled to explain himself when Sand reacts in this way. Ohh am I sensing a pattern: (Ray does something to upset Sand, Sand gets in a huff, Ray pleads for forgiveness, and then they kiss and make-up. Cough.)

They seem to end up at Ray's house again. Unless this is actually the other way around, and they pre-drink at Ray's before heading to the strip club together.

My understanding is they don't sleep with each other until the kiss at Sand's place (on his balcony). So I'm guessing this episode is mostly going to be these two getting to know one another better.

[piotrtymcio]

Listopad

Panasonic DC-TZ90

[EN] Good morning. The year is coming to an end, which means it’s time for reflections and changes. Transformations. One such transformation will involve this blog. I haven’t fully figured out what it will look like yet. However, I have the feeling that some paths in my life are leading nowhere.

This photo wasn’t randomly chosen. I picked it. Ideally, it would’ve been taken in December. I could even lie and say it’s from December—who would care? Nonetheless, it reflects my mood during this dreary November-December-crappy season. I’m struggling.

I’m struggling with the lack of sunlight and the lousy weather. With a renovation that’s taken away my kitchen for months. I’m eating junk ready-meals from the corner store that don’t do anything good for me or my mood. I’ve let various factors take over my life. Why?

Because it’s easier. It’s easier to heat up a pre-made meal at work than to try and cook without a kitchen. It’s easier to stay indoors because the weather is awful. It’s easier to randomly select a photo than to choose one with intention. But is that really me? Partly, yes.

There’s something comforting about putting certain things on autopilot and letting them happen. It’s nice not to choose. It makes sense. Steve Jobs had seven pairs of identical pants, socks, and shirts. He didn’t choose. Willpower is finite. If we waste it on trivialities, we won’t have the energy to make the truly important decisions. That’s the crux of it.

It’s time to reevaluate certain values and attitudes. Time to stop random selection. Maybe even time to stop posting every single goddamn day. Seriously! I’ve been doing it for years (not just here), and what has it led to?

And this isn’t the only thing I need to confront. There are plenty. At this moment, as I write this, I don’t know where I’m headed. But the decision to change direction has already been made. I’m setting out on a journey to rediscover myself. I just need to remember where I am first.

[PL] Dzień Dobry. Rok się kończy więc przychodzi czas na podsumowania i zmiany. Transformacje. Jedna z takich transformacji obejmie tego bloga. Jeszcze do końca nie przemyślałem jak będzie to wyglądać. Mam jednak wrażenie, że pewne ścieżki w moim życiu prowadzą donikąd.

To zdjęcie nie zostało wylosowane. Wybrałem je. Idealnie byłoby, żeby było z grudnia. Mógłbym nawet skłamać, że jest grudniowe i kogo by to obeszło? Nie mniej jednak oddaje ono mój nastrój w tym listopadowo - grudniowo - chujowym okresie. Cierpię.

Cierpię z powodu braku słońca, kiepskiej pogody. Remontu który odebrał mi kuchnię na parę miesięcy. Jem gówniane gotowce z żabki które nie specjalnie wpływają dobrze na mnie i moje samopoczucie. Pozwoliłem różnym czynnikom zawładnąć moim życiem. Dlaczego?

Bo jest łatwiej. Łatwiej jest odgrzać gotowca w pracy niż próbować coś zrobić bez kuchni. Łatwiej jest nie wychodzić bo kiepska pogoda. Łatwiej jest wylosować zdjęcie niż wybrać je z intencją. Tylko czy to na prawdę jestem ja? Poniekąd.

Fajnie jest puścić pewne rzeczy na autopilocie i pozwolić by działy się same. Fajnie jest nie wybierać. To ma duży sens. Steve Jobs miał 7 par takich samych spodni, skarpet, koszul. Nie wybierał. Silna wola jest skończona. Jeśli będziemy poświęcać uwagę na pierdoły to zabraknie nam sił na podjęcie tych na prawdę ważnych decyzji. To jest sedno.

Przyszedł czas na rewaluację pewnych wartości i postaw. Czas skończyć losowanie. Być może nawet czas skończyć z postowanie każdego jednego, jebanego dnia. Serio! Robię to od kilku lat. (Poza tym blogiem) i co z tego wynikło?

I to nie jest jedyna rzecz z którą muszę się skonfrontować. Jest ich sporo. W tej chwili, kiedy to piszę, nie wiem dokąd mam pójść ale to, że zmieniam kierunek jest już postanowione. Wyruszam w podróż, żeby odnaleźć siebie. Tylko najpierw muszę sobie przypomnieć gdzie jestem.

[zenosyneee]

Chapter VIII WIP: Out of the Hells

In this chapter, we discover just how far Orin is willing to go to get revenge on the sister she despises- even if it means taking her place in Astarion's mind.

Content warning: Adult themes, suggestive and explicit content, fantasy violence, and memories of Astarion's past trauma. Orin the Red's shapeshifting antics and manipulation.

As always please let me know what you think of this work in progress- what you liked and didn't like, and what you hope to see in the rest of the story. I didn't proofread just yet, just posted it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amidst all his turbulent inner thoughts and the uncomfortable emotions that were chasing him tonight, Astarion turned his eyes to the water beneath the glowing moon on the wide open beach. The waves danced upward as if to reach towards the stars, begging for the chance to take flight in the night sky.

"A bird may love a fish, but where would they live?"

Astarion despised the feelings within his chest now, the feelings that he had repressed and hidden away for two hundred years. Anger and resentment muddied any semblance of respite he tried to chase this evening- and he felt that the progress he had made in coming to terms with his simple plan was dashed now.

But he was feeling, after all. For the first time in two centuries he was feeling. He wasn't mindlessly and soullessly pacing the streets at night in his endless hunt for his master- his otherworldly hunger eating away at his will to go on for another moment.

Just as his eyelids began to grow heavier, he noted something stirring within the shallow waters in front of him. His eyes snapped open and he could have sworn his undead heart did a flip in his chest. The crystalline ripples of the water that had been crashing onto the sand parted slightly to reveal a familiar face.

"Zenosyne?" he called out.

"Astarion."

"What are you doing?" He asked, and inwardly chiding himself for the silly question. Of course she wanted to be in the water, for her own sake. The siren craved the sea, naturally.

"Oh, Astarion." She called again, gesturing calmly for him to join her.

Her hands reached out towards him as she emerged from the sea- her skin glowing with the blues and greens of the evening sky and the setting sun. She looked the same, but different. She didn't wear the colorful beads that often adorned her chest, but black pearls gathered around her beckoning form instead. Some of the strands loosely hung from her neck, and some sat tightly on her wet skin- the flesh underneath sensuously begging to be set free. He let his eyes wander for a moment. He wanted to pull at the pearls and watch as the strands broke into a million pieces under his grip, like stars erupting from the heavens only to reveal what he desired beneath.

"Oh, Astarion what?" He asked incredulously. He rolled his eyes with feigned annoyance. The siren's attention was fixed on him still, each movement he made studied by her eager eyes. He walked up to the shore where she lay now, and stood over where she rested out in the shallows. His eyes darted back and forth between hers', trying to ascertain whether or not the dark urges had been settling in her mind again. She did seem different somehow, but it was not the dark urges that he saw in her far-off gaze.

The siren reached up to him again, her hands running over his sand covered torso. She kneeled with her shimmering tail still partly beneath the waves, and the water pooled around them both with bubbling foam. When each wave crashed up onto the shore, it crashed into their bodies- pushing and pulling them in every direction. It was as if the sea were pulling him closer to her with each rushing tide.

"I can see this very scene being the cover of our spicy little novel." He jested, hoping to rouse a giggle from her. She seemed utterly serious, and he wanted to see if he could chip away at that hardened exterior of hers' once again.

She didn't blink an eye- but a tiny hint of confusion was evident in her countenance. She didn't seem to dwell on this, though, pulling on his arms with more force than she had ever used before when toying playfully with him.

Astarion fell down onto his knees along with her now, the water splashing violently into their faces- his silver hair now wet and clinging to his pale neck. He felt that sensation again- the one where he thought his undead heart might be beating again as she grasped his face with dominant resolve.

He wasted no more time, and his hands pulled gently at the black pearls that were between her skin and his. He pressed his chest up against hers' for leverage, and let his knuckles pale as he wrapped his fingers around the glistening strands with more force. It brought her chest upwards and forced her shoulders back, her face tilted to the sky.

"Say the word." He whispered. His lips were inches from Zeno's, and his fists remained tightly wrapped around her pearl top.

"Please."

[bybdolan]

hi genuinely can't tell if your tag on that post about taylor being heterosexual was sarcastic or not could you please clarify..not that you have to obvi! was just wondering haha

no no it was 100% genuine lmao. Obviously it is partly In jest because i do not know her personally and these quotes and lyrics are nearly a decade old, but personally I have never related to the way Taylor talks about dating because a lot of it feels very steeped in rather traditional gender roles - only my very straight friends talk about men in terms of "There are boys and there are MEN", y'know? I mean, due to her economic position and the sheer Power she holds Taylor is automatically subverting traditional gender roles in relationships, and I think it is super important to talk about that, and I have also voiced my discomfort with the way many people automatically assume Taylor MUST want a manly man, because that simply reinforces stereotypes. Yet, when you look at the things Taylor actually says about men, her ideal guy seems to hold many traits that are deemed traditionally masculine, and Taylor herself is also very Girl in a lot of ways. Which is cute and all well and good - I personally find it kind of near-sighted to automatically apply her desire for breaking through gender stereotypes in the music industry to her personal relationships as well. Idk man, I think generally the Subverting Gender Norms and Femininity! edge people ascribe to Taylor on occassion feels a tad misplaced, considering we are talking about a woman who has always made it very clear that her Power or Influence or Business Mind do not take away from her Femininity and dare I say Girlishness. "I want to wear pink and tell you how I feel about politics" comes to mind. Also, just to make it clear: I do not think wanting A Man or talking about relationships the way Taylor does is wrong or regressive or whatever. I fucking love girl talk like that!

[eddieredmayneargentinablog]

New Article:

Eddie Redmayne On How His Emcee in Cabaret Is a Shape Shifter.

The Olivier and Oscar winner talked with Playbill about coming back to the stage, and whether he's coming to Broadway.

Playbill, by Talaura Harms, October 16, 2023.

While a few fortunate Broadway theatregoers were able to catch the recent Olivier Award-winning revival of Cabaret, the majority of us are anxiously awaiting its Spring 2024 arrival on Broadway. And even more, we are anxiously awaiting the casting news to see if one, both, or neither of its Olivier-winning stars, Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley, will come with it.

While we impatiently tap our feet as we wait to hear, we've at least had the cast recording to keep us company. Released in January 2023, the album features Redmayne as The Emcee and Buckley as Sally Bowles. 

Playbill got the chance to catch up with Redmayne recently to chat about his wild, weird performance and, basically, harass him about his 13 year (and counting) absence from the Broadway stage.

Redmayne made his Broadway debut in 2010 when the Donmar Warehouse production of John Logan's Red transferred from the West End. The two-hander starred Alfred Molina as artist Mark Rothko and Redmayne as his assistant. Redmayne earned an Olivier and a Tony for his performance. 

Redmayne says, only partly in jest, that one of the reasons he hasn't returned to Broadway is because Red was perfect. "It was one of the greatest experiences of my life—working with Fred Molina on a play that I loved, and with Michael Grandage," he says. "It went so well that I was like, 'I don't think I'm ever going to do a Broadway play ever again. It's never ever gonna go as well as that.'"

Following Red, he returned to the West End for another production with Grandage, a short run as the title role in Shakespeare's Richard II. Then his film career took off. His 2012 performance as Marius in the Les Misérables film set musical theatre hearts aflutter. Then in 2015, he was awarded an Oscar for his role as Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything and garnered another nomination the following year for The Danish Girl.

He did not return to the stage until the 2021 West End revival of Kander and Ebb's Cabaret. The chance to create The Emcee anew was too good to pass up. "The abstract nature of the character—the fact that does the character even really exist? Is it a figment of the imagination? I mean, it's so ripe for interpretation," says Redmayne. "And the show is so beautifully constructed, but yet it allows for interpretation. That was the appeal."

The Emcee is so ripe for interpretation because the character only exists in the Kit Kat Club and not within narrative story of Cabaret. The diegetic Kit Kat Club numbers comment on the action of the plot—chanteuse Sally Bowles' relationship with English writer Cliff during the Nazi rise to power in Berlin—but the Kit Kat Club songs are not a part of the action. 

And this new immersive production takes that meta-theatricality to new heights—London's Playhouse Theatre has been transformed to look like a '40s Berlin nightclub, with performers interacting with he audience during the preshow. 

Redmayne's initial actor's instinct was to create a backstory for The Emcee, but in the end, his attempts simply were not supported by the text. So, he tried something else. "What was very liberating about playing this role was that I approached it, ultimately, in a very different way—which was throwing clay at a wall in big kind of broad gestures and then trying to refine it as it were," Redmayne explains. "Then, as we began to run the show, making sense of a psychology through it—working backwards, and working with the understanding that there's an abstraction to the character."

But Redmayne was excited about shaking his process up a bit. He'd only done film for the 10 years prior to Cabaret, and he was ready to dive into stage work again. In the months leading up to Cabaret rehearsals, he even enrolled in a training course at Lecoq (formally, L'École Internationale de Théâtre Jacques Lecoq), a physical theatre school in Paris. "I was working with actors aged 18 to 60 from all over the world. It was huge improvisations, the whole thing was in French, and there were these two French doyennes of Lecoq's training going 'No!' and it was kind of brutal, but it was exactly what I needed," he says, laughing. "It took me out of my head. I felt so much more physically free to humiliate myself. By the time I came into the rehearsal room for Cabaret, the experience was one of release in some ways."

So with his newfound physical freedom, and the idea of The Emcee as an abstraction unclouded by a backstory, Redmayne was ready to create his character. The vocal performance is almost otherworldly. Redmayne explains the genesis of his sound: "There was this idea of a shapeshifter. That was something that [director] Rebecca [Frecknall] and Tom Scott, our production designer, talked about—that my version of The Emcee could puppeteer this group of Kit Kat dancers and conjure these characters. But, ultimately, when fascism arrives, he is able to get out absolutely fine. He can shape shift his way out of that situation. And I wanted vocally for that to translate as well."

Working with Musical Director Jennifer Whyte ("She had brilliant ideas," he adds), Redmayne created different voices and sounds for different songs. In "Tomorrow Belongs to Me," he sang live over his own recorded harmony lines. "So, in that, there was a delicate side. Then there was the raucous, quite nasal version of The Emcee in 'Willkommen.' And then, particularly within 'I Don't Care Much,' I wanted you to hear him move from one voice into the other within the same song. So he's sort of demonstrating to the audience the power he has in his passivity, just to keep changing the versions of himself," explains Redmayne, then quickly adding,"That sounds bloody pretentious." (Clearly Mr. Redmayne does not understand how hard we can nerd out about a vocal performance.)

Musical theatre is in Redmayne's blood, he says. His first job, after all, was playing a workhouse boy in a West End production of Oliver! And he was a choral scholar in his years at Cambridge. And returning to Cabaret after years in film was a particular joy for him. "I do think that music and singing jumps synapses into people's souls and you connect emotionally in a beautifully honest way," he says. 

But he's more proud of just being involved with this particular production. He's been back to see every new cast as they arrive in the West End. "Rebecca has created a version of the show that champions individuality," he says. "Getting to watch a production that you've been in, but in a completely different interpretation—having seen all of The Emcees and Sallys and seen the breadth and brilliance of their voices—I just feel proud to be a part of something that keeps living."

And, of course, we asked if he'll be coming to Broadway with Cabaret in the spring. Of course we did. "You know more about it than I do," said the shape shifter, easily getting out of that one.

The Rebecca Frecknall-directed production of the Tony-winning 1966 Broadway musical, currently running at London's Kit Kat Club (a.k.a. the renovated Playhouse Theatre), officially opened December 12, 2021. It currently stars Jake Shears as The Emcee and Rebecca Lucy Taylor as Sally Bowles. Mason Alexander Park and Maude Apatow just completed their three-month runs in the show. 

Cabaret is slated to arrive at the August Wilson Theatre this season. Dates and cast are to be announced. 

Photo by Marc Brenner

[p-artsypants]

Blurb #22

I'm going to try to share 70 blurbs from my WIPs and unfinished fics to celebrate reaching 70 posted fics! To help with this endeavor, please feel free to send me a word or a fandom you know I write for, and I'll share the blurb. IDK if I'll get 70 prompts, but let's try it! Send as many as you want!

“Heads up!”

Adrien stopped the cannon ball as it rolled to him.

“Sorry about that! Slippery little buggers!”

“Oh, it’s no problem.” Then he went to lift it, only not able to even lift it off the floor.

“My, you’re a feeble one, aren’t you?”

“Um, excuse me?” Chloe interjected. “Who do you think you’re talking to? This is Prince Adrien!”

The assembled crew giggled, trying to pretend they hadn’t been watching.

Marinette blinked, then easily picked the cannon ball up. “Forgive me. You’re a feeble Prince, aren’t you, Your Highness?”

Adrien blushed wildly, not used to being talked to this way.

“Caline!” A shrill voice called over to the Third Mate. The voice belonged to the quartermaster, a girl with brunette hair in two low ponytails hanging down by her face. “The Powder Monkey dropped a cannon ball and it almost hit the Prince!”

“What!?”

“She has a name, you know!” Called another woman with auburn hair by the helm.

“Yes,” the quartermaster drawled. “I know. But that’s Captain’s orders, Alya, use someone’s rank when they’ve done something wrong. And since everything Powder Monkey does is a mistake, I have forgotten her name.”

The Powder Monkey blushed hotly, partly in embarrassment, and partly in rage.

“So what do you say, Caline? What’s the punishment for nearly taking off someone’s foot?”

“I say she is removed from the ship.” Spoke the cold voice of the duke. “I will not tolerate someone speaking to the Prince so casually, especially not some ship rat.”

“Father,” the Prince warned. “She was just teasing me. I wasn’t offended. Can we not throw someone out for minor offenses?”

“I’d rather get rid of the riff-raff before we set sail, so no provisions are wasted on her.”

“Yes!” Chloe agreed. “It’s high time we rid ourselves of the useless Powder Monkey!”

“Enough!” The voice of Captain Bourgeois silenced the argument. “We haven’t even left harbor and you girls are already squabbling!”

Chloe and the quartermaster bowed their heads.

“Despite the slip ups, our Powder Monkey knows the inside and outside of this ship better than I do. She was born and raised on it, and no one can replace her. Her job is the most dangerous, and most vital.”

The girl seemed to glow at the praise.

“That being said, Powder Monkey, be wise to keep your mouth shut and your eyes on your work. Any more problems, and this will be your last job. I don’t care who your family is. Understood?”

“Yes sir!”

“Good, get back to work…whatever your name is!”

The girl hurried off with the cannonball.

Adrien, born of noble birth and blood, had rarely spent time with the so called ‘riff-raff’. This girl had arrived like a breath of fresh air. She hadn’t fallen all over herself to impress him. In fact, she didn’t try to do anything. Just a little tease, a little jest. It was nice. She was nice.

He felt extremely sorry for her.

The most dangerous job on the ship? What on earth was she doing? And why voluntarily?

This was more thought then he should have paid to the girl. Certainly his interactions with her to come would be limited.

----

This fic is called 'Stardust' and I've talked about it a few times. It connects to Blurb #15. I like to day dream about it. I have some more blurbs I'll share later, along with concept art if anyone is interested.

Despite not really being in the ML fandom anymore, I like this AU enough, I might write it all someday...maybe...

[ruiniel]

Bites

Fandom: The Silmarillion

Rating: M(ish)

Relationship: Celegorm/Fingon

Additional Tags: Years of the Trees Valinor, Sexual Humor, Rough Kissing, Biting ofc, Flirting, Mild Blood

Count: 0.4k

Summary: a short written a while ago for Tolkien Scribbles & Drabbles 2023

AO3

A side of him expected it to come to this: their competitive natures always clashed, and here was no different. What Tyelkormo didn’t expect, was to like it. For his cousin to track him after his feat, relentless as a Maia of his own horned patron. He softened under the hot grip and the brush of ravenwing curls now lush against his jaw, the force of the sudden bite only giving him more grief, as much as the surge of pleasure he wished he could ignore (his body chose not to listen, now of all times).

"... will you return the dagger?" Findekáno murmured his woe in half-jest before another mind-bending go at the flushed skin of his opponent: warm lips and hard teeth, biting into muscle with relish.

Tyelkormo never thought his half-cousin had it in him. He would have said as much, but found speech hard at that moment. Tyelkormo found himself hardening, and trying to hide it was about as successful as aiming to shoot down a wyvern with a slingshot. “... No,” he said, partly because he really didn’t want to, and partly because this felt too much like the time he wrestled with a bear in the wilds to the North of Valinor, over a trite misunderstanding related to a poorly picked camping place. He felt much like he did now: overwhelmed and much too alive to submit, despite knowing that he will, eventually, lose. "You're stronger than you seem, I will give you this," he grunted suddenly tackling Findekáno, tossing him none-too-gently on his back.

Findekáno growled (good, bad? Tyelkormo decided it didn't matter now), trying to catch a handful of silver hair and pull—only to pause at the sudden pressure on his hips. "It's my weapon, I won it by right. You cheated. Return it, you dishonorable wretch!"

Tyelkormo grinned, sudden and vicious, lips bloodied by a previously well-placed elbow. It was almost... sweet, the way Findekáno struggled. "There is a very poor jest I have as an answer to that."

"Tyelkormo! I-will-end-you!" Findekáno snapped again, his rage choked by a groan too sudden and wanton to not belie his words when the jest became truth.

"I'd like to see you try..." his opponent murmured, gaze softening as he looked down upon his capture.

His cousin's snarl, poise and all faded, a pinch of fondness replacing the animosity on his face. Tyelkormo smiled as a warm, fearless hand gripped his hipbone. Sometimes, they understood each other better this way.